You Don’t Need $15,000 to Get Divorced. You Need $500 and AI.

“I can’t afford to get divorced.”

I’ve heard this from friends, colleagues, and strangers on the internet more times than I can count. They sit in consultations where attorneys quote $7,500 retainers and $350/hour billing. They do the math. And they stay stuck.

Here’s what nobody tells them: You don’t need $15,000. You need $500.

The Numbers Everyone Gets Wrong

The average divorce in America costs $11,300 in legal fees.

But here’s the question nobody asks: What are you actually paying for?

When you hire a divorce attorney, you’re paying for:

Document preparation
Form filling
Research
Organization
Drafting correspondence
Administrative work

In other words, you’re paying $350/hour for tasks that AI can do for $20/month.

The Real Cost of a DIY Divorce with AI

Let me break down what divorce actually costs when you’re smart about it:

Item	Cost
“How to File for Divorce Using AI” book	$20
AI subscription (6-12 months)	$120-240
Court filing fees	$150-400 (varies by state)
Optional: Attorney review (1 hour)	$300-500
Total	$500-1,000

That’s it. That’s the real cost for most uncontested divorces.

What AI Actually Does for Your Divorce

AI doesn’t replace legal judgment. But it handles everything else:

Document Preparation AI can draft your divorce petition, settlement agreements, parenting plans, and financial disclosures. You provide the information; it formats everything correctly.

State-Specific Research Every state has different rules. AI can research your state’s requirements, timelines, waiting periods, and filing procedures in minutes.

Financial Analysis AI can help you calculate asset division, analyze retirement account splits, and model different settlement scenarios.

Communication Need to send a difficult email to your ex? AI can help you draft messages that are clear, professional, and don’t escalate conflict.

Organization Divorce involves hundreds of details. AI can help you track deadlines, create checklists, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

The $500 Dining Table Problem

Here’s a story that illustrates why traditional divorce is so expensive.

A couple is divorcing. They both want the dining room table. It’s worth maybe $500.

They both hire attorneys. The attorneys exchange letters. They argue. They file motions. They spend 3 hours each on this one issue.

The math:

Your attorney: 3 hours × $350 = $1,050
Ex’s attorney: 3 hours × $350 = $1,050
Court filings: $75
Total spent fighting over $500 table: $2,175

You both spent over $1,000 to fight over a $500 table. The only winners? The attorneys.

AI would have told you in 30 seconds: “This item costs more to fight over than it’s worth. Let it go or offer $250 to buy out the other party’s share.”

Who Can Use the AI Approach

The $500 divorce works best if:

✅ Your divorce is uncontested (you agree on major issues)
✅ You have simple assets (no complex business interests)
✅ You have no children or have agreed on custody
✅ Both parties are cooperative (or at least not hostile)
✅ You’re willing to do the work yourself

If you have complex assets, contested custody, or a hostile spouse, you may need more legal help. But even then, AI can reduce your costs significantly by handling the administrative work.

When You Still Need a Lawyer

Let me be clear: some situations require professional legal help.

Hire an attorney if:

There’s domestic violence or safety concerns
Your spouse has hired an aggressive attorney
You have complex business ownership to divide
There are international custody issues
You suspect hidden assets
You’re being accused of abuse or neglect

For these situations, the $500 approach won’t work. But you can still use AI to reduce costs by coming to your attorney prepared and organized.

The Hybrid Approach

Most people don’t need full attorney representation OR pure DIY. They need something in between.

The smart approach:

Use AI to do 90% of the preparation
Hire an attorney for a single consultation ($300-500)
Have them review your final documents (1-2 hours)

This gives you professional oversight without the $11,000 price tag.

The Real Reason Divorce Is Expensive

It’s not complexity. It’s conflict.

Every unnecessary fight costs money. Every angry email that requires a response. Every motion filed out of spite. Every hour spent arguing about things that don’t matter.

AI helps because it’s rational. It doesn’t get emotional. When you ask “Should I fight for this?”, it runs the math and tells you the truth.

Sometimes the truth is: Let it go. The fight costs more than the prize.

Getting Started

If you’re considering divorce and worried about cost, here’s what to do:

Assess your situation — Is this uncontested? Are there complex issues?
Learn your state’s requirements — What forms do you need? What are the filing fees?
Get organized — Gather financial documents, create inventories, list your goals
Use AI strategically — Let it handle drafts, research, and calculations
Consider limited legal help — A single consultation can verify you’re on track

You don’t have to stay trapped because you can’t afford a $15,000 divorce. There’s a better way.

JR Epps is the author of “How to File for Divorce Using AI” — a complete guide to navigating divorce affordably using AI tools. Get the book →